Fiat 131 S makes 1,025,098 kms - the full story!

[Robert]

Our forum member Heini kindly sent me an article from a German classic car periodical (goes by the name of "AutoBild klassik", notorious for bad journalism, but the contents is what counts). With Heini's approval I will give you a summary, and the news is really striking: the 1 million km mirafiori!

In 1976, after seeing a Fiat commercial that promised the car would last 150,000 km, the Frenchman Willy Malaroda bought a Fiat 131S. He seems to be a somewhat strange guy - travelling around the world in his car, but never into Paris that was only 30 kms from his home, because "city traffic is bad for clutch and engine". He took his 131 to the northernmost point of Norway (km 87,000) and through the Sahara desert (km 366,000); instead of renting a car in the USA, he had the mirafiori shipped there (km 600,000). Just before the USA trip, the 1300 engine was rebuilt at 560,000 km in Italy. They saw Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Russia and Turkey, where the car was restored (welded and painted) in 2006. And, the first time he had to call for roadside assistance was in 2007 (at 878,582 kms), when the timing belt broke after only 20,000 kms. Recently, he gave the car to a German charity organization which is selling it for raising funds (goes by the name of "Lebenshilfe Giessen").

If you are interested in the whole story, I might do a translation of the whole article. The story is great, the article is unfortunately written in a very low-key boulevard style.

[Thotos]

... Turkey, where the car was restored (welded and painted) in 2006.

I wonder if that was at Yagmur's place... 

[kev131]

Sounds like a story of interest to 131 fans - I'm certainly interested....as long as it not too much effort Robert.

[stathe174]

It really should be an interesting story if you have the time Robert...

[simon131]

I'd be interested in it too please Robert, if you have time to do a bit of translation. Sounds like a very interesting story.

[Robert]

OK boys, here's my humble attempt of translating the text into proper English. I apologize for some Germanisms which may be found in the text - remember, English is not my native tongue. Now, enjoy this incredible story!

25 times around the World - 1 Million Kilometers in a Fiat mirafiori.

In 1976, after seeing a Fiat commercial that promised the car would last 150,000 km, the Frenchman Willy Malaroda bought a Fiat 131S with a 1300 cc engine. Their relationship lasted for 1,025,098 kms - neither man nor car did give in.

This story proves how far drivers cherishing their cars can go.

Willy Malaroda, now 59 years hold, has spent more than half of his life with his mirafiori, going 1,025,098 kilometers together - through Europe, to the North Cape, to Russia, through Africa and even to the USA. Mr. Malaroda kept track of everything concerning his car: two huge folders contain protocols of every gas stop and all repairs. The logbooks list location, odometer reading and fuel consumption as well as weather conditions and ambient temperature. And they also include foreign speeding tickets never paid for, service bills, fines and insurance papers. Everything is laid down, from the first gas bill until the last oil change.

Mr. Malaroda is a very sincere man; however, sometimes a little strange. He travelled the world in his mirafiori - but never took it into Paris, only 30 km away from his home. According to his words, city traffic is bad for clutch and engine. His friends were bewildered: Who's this man who goes to the Northern Cape in a Fiat that already did 87,000 km? This is not the right car for a trip like this. However, they fell silent when Mr. Malaroda crossed the Sahara desert, the odometer now showing 366,000 km.

He's pedantic and punk at the same time: every sane man rents a car when travelling the USA. In contrast, Mr. Malaroda has his reliable Italian car shipped to Jacksonville, Florida (the odometer now showing 600,000 km).

The former General Manager and trainspotter who gave up his job in order to become a train conductor follows strict rules: never go faster than 120 km/h; keep the engine below 3,000 RPM; never go for short distances (below 10 km). For the first 100,000 km, he used 20W50 Total motor oil; later he switched to engine oil from the super market's shelf, shortening oil change intervals to 5,000 km. Spark plugs, air and oil filter he changed every 10,000 km, at this interval also exchanging tires axle wise (front to back and vice versa). He states that in this way a B.F. Goodrich set of tires lasts around 180,000 km.

Never ever Mr. Malaroda allowed strangers to drive his car, stressing that a car gets accustomed to its driver. He states that he knows his Fiat better than his own body. Every clunk, every dent, every flaw he jotted down in his "book of problems", the first flaw the day he bought the car, October 2, 1976: water in the trunk. His comment on that: the water seal seems to be badly engineered.

Some logbook entries are strange but straightforward: with a broken brake cylinder, Mr. Malaroda went from Istanbul to Paris, using only the hand brake. He quotes that he always made notes of breakdowns instantly and repaired "quickly". Most jobs he did by himself, giving the car away only for major repairs, like an engine rebuild after 560,000 km he had done in Italy in July 1999.

Seven years later, Mr. Malaroda went to Turkey to have the car welded and painted, "for 25% of the French price". On returning, he was busted at the Bulgarian border - the custom officers were alarmed by the smell of fresh paint and suspected drug trafficking. They kept him for three hours, even dismounting the gas tank.

On March 23, 2007, at 878,582 km, Mr. Malaroda had to call for roadside assistance the first time in 31 years. Not far from home the timing belt snapped, after only 20,000 km instead of 60,000 km. This happened two times more, and this was when Mr. Malaroda started considering to sell the mirafiori.

According to his words, the parts situation became more and more difficult, causing him to wait for three months for a wiper motor. He bought another 131 for spares (400 Euro), but to no avail: to his taste, the aged Italian car now costed him too much money, time and nerves. So he decided to give the car to charity. The German organization "Lebenshilfe Giessen" is the new owner of car and all documents; it will be sold to the highest bidder, all revenue going to charity projects. Contact person is Reinhard Schade, phone +49-160-7059039.

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This translation is not word-by-word but edited and abbreviated, in order to omit the yellow press style in which it is unfortunately written. All copyright for the original text by the German periodical "AutoBILD klassik", Nr. 4-April 2011. Original text by Daniela Pem?ller.

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For pictures, maybe Heini can scan the pictures from the original pages? - I do only have a xerocopy.

[Heini131]

No sorry, i am not able to scan the pictures

But i managed to buy 5 original magazines. The first 5 members who send me pm with their adress will
get one 

Don`t worry about the costs, i take a beer at 3ma

Albert, i have already one in stock for you

[Robert]

Don`t worry about the costs, i take a beer at 3ma

So you're already in for 6 luke warm pints of beer now poor old chap! 

(another idea instead of scanning the pics would be making digipics)

[Heini131]

Things are working out quite good for me...

[kev131]

That's very kind of you Heini.  I'd like to see the article at 3MA perhaps.

The article was well translated Robert...except for the "punk" reference - I didn't get that.

I wonder what state the poor seats are in now. I'd like to see the car in the metal just to see what kind of wear it has endured. 

[simon131]

Yeah, I'd like to see it too Kev. I bet the seats are totally shot especially after spending time in the desert and other such hot and sunny places. I bet the dash is cracked, the headlining is sagging and the parcel shelf has faded.

It does reinforce what I've always said about the 131, and Fiat mechanicals in general actually, they are generally very reliable and if you look after them, they are every bit as reliable as more expensive cars.

[bellamacchina]

Thanks Heini, we will have a lot of drinks together when we go to the UK together ;DOnly my rearaxle, hope we can get 2 bearings, SKF please answer positive tomorrow

Nice translation Robert!

[Heini131]

Car is up for sale now

I sent them a mail and untill now the best offer is 1.200?

http://www.klassiker-garage.com/index.php?id=18&tt_products%5BbackPID%5D=4&tt_products%5Bproduct%5D=105&cHash=07c2fc137447805f29dc8b3159cc4027

[Yagmur]

... Turkey, where the car was restored (welded and painted) in 2006.

I wonder if that was at Yagmur's place... 

I would like to do it without any money...

[Tas131]

I would like to do it without any money...

I'll send mine over!